Andhra Pradesh: Three people lost their lives in a fiery road accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district during the early hours of Thursday, after a private bus collided with a container lorry and both vehicles were engulfed in flames.
The crash occurred at around 1.30 am while the bus was travelling from Nellore to Hyderabad. According to police officials, the incident was triggered when a tyre on the right side of the bus suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The bus veered across the median and rammed into an oncoming container lorry transporting motorcycles.
The force of the collision led to an immediate fire, trapping passengers inside the bus. Local residents, along with the bus conductor and cleaner, acted swiftly by breaking windows to help passengers escape. Several passengers were seen jumping out of the bus in panic as flames spread rapidly.
Fire and police personnel rushed to the scene and battled the blaze for hours. Traffic along the stretch was severely affected as emergency teams worked to extinguish the fire and clear the wreckage. Despite their efforts, both the bus and the lorry were completely destroyed.
The bus driver, the lorry driver, and the cleaner of the truck succumbed to severe injuries and burn wounds. Their bodies were later transported to a government hospital for post-mortem examinations.
All 36 passengers on board survived the incident. However, four of them sustained minor fractures and were admitted to the Nandyal District Government Hospital for treatment. The remaining passengers escaped with minor injuries.
Police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that the tyre burst was the primary cause of the accident, leading to the fatal collision and subsequent fire.
The incident has revived concerns over road safety, particularly during night travel and the maintenance standards of private long-distance buses. It also brings back memories of a deadly bus fire in neighbouring Kurnool district in October 2025, where 20 passengers were killed, underscoring the urgent need for stricter safety checks and enforcement.
